3 May 2009
Visit to Saudi Arabia
I will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today, Sunday 3 May and Monday 4 May.
This will be the first visit to Saudi Arabia by an Australian Foreign Minister since 2003.
Australia places a high priority on enhancing our relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is strategically significant, the world's largest oil exporter and the largest economy in the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia is our second largest trade partner in the Gulf, with merchandise trade valued at $3.4 billion in 2008. It is Australia's second largest market for passenger motor vehicles, worth $1 billion in 2008.
There are increasing people-to-people contacts between Australia and Saudi Arabia. There are more than 4,000 Australians living and working in Saudi Arabia. Almost 7,000 Saudis are studying at Australian educational institutions and Saudis are increasingly choosing to visit Australia for tourism.
While in Riyadh, I will meet with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal, other senior leaders and Ministers, including the Minister of Commerce and Industry, HE Mr Zainal Alireza.
We will exchange perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues at a key time in international economic, strategic and security affairs.
Saudi Arabia is an important member of the G20. We will discuss our individual and collective responses to the global financial and economic crisis.
As well, Australia and Saudi Arabia share interests in combating terrorism and extremism.
I will also meet Australian and Saudi business people leading our trade and investment relationship. I will reinforce Australia's strong desire for the early conclusion of an Australia- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement.
I will also discuss the formalisation of a Ministerial level dialogue between Australia and Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.
The countries of the GCC (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) are a major export market for Australia, with total merchandise trade worth $12.3 billion in 2008.
In Jeddah, I will meet with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), HE Ekmeluddin Ihsanoglu. The OIC, the collective voice of the Muslim world with a membership of 57 states, plays a significant role internationally.
While in Jeddah I will also have the opportunity of meeting Australian business representatives.
Media inquiries:
- Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500
- Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555